Factors of thermal denudation activation and thermicirques activity on central Yamal in 2010–2018

• Main Authors: A. V. Khomutov, E. A. Babkina, R. R. Khairullin, Yu. A. Dvornikov, А. В. Хомутов, Е. А. Бабкина, Р. Р. Хайруллин, Ю. А. Дворников
• Other Authors: The research was carried by the Earth Cryosphere Institute of the Tyumen Scientific Centre of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences within the framework of the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (theme No. FWRZ-2021-0012). Datasets of seasonal thaw thickness (1993–2018) and thermocirques (2012–2017) monitoring received within the framework of the integration projects of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences No. 122 and 144. Thermocirques monitoring in 2018–2020 and first stage of their activity analysis was carried within the framework of the RFBR grant No. 18-05-60222. The expeditions were organized by the Interregional Expedition Centre «Arctic» (2014–2017) and The Russian Center of Arctic Exploration (2018–2019), Работа выполнена Институтом криосферы Земли ТюмНЦ СО РАН в рамках государственного задания Министерства науки и высшего образования Российской Федерации (тема № FWRZ2021-0012). Данные мониторинга глубины сезонного протаивания (с 1993 по 2018 г.) и термоцирков (с 2012 по 2017 г.) получены в рамках интеграционных проектов СО РАН № 122 и 144. Мониторинг термоцирков в 2018–2020 гг., а также первоначальный этап анализа их активности проведены в рамках гранта РФФИ № 18-05-60222. Экспедиции организованы при поддержке НП «МЭЦ “Арктика”» (2014–2017 гг.) и НП «Российский центр освоения Арктики» (2018–2019 гг.)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: Государственный научный центр Российской Федерации Арктический и антарктический научно-исследовательский институт 2024
• Subjects: термоцирк; ground ice; permafrost; seasonal thawing; thermal denudation; thermocirque; Yamal Peninsula; многолетнемерзлые породы; подземный лед; полуостров Ямал; сезонное протаивание; термоденудация; Arctic; Ice; Permafrost and Periglacial Processes; The Cryosphere; Ямал; Siberia
• Online Access: https://www.aaresearch.science/jour/article/view/614; https://doi.org/10.30758/0555-2648-2024-70-2-222-237

The paper presents research findings of the climatic factors responsible for the activation of thermal denudation processes leading to the formation of thermocirques in the central part of the Yamal Peninsula in the north of West Siberia. Based on a comparison of multi-temporal remote sensing (2010, 2013 and 2018) coupled with climate data, an analysis of the thermocirques activity in 2010–2018 was carried out. Thermocirques are specific topographic forms that arise because of the activation of cryogenic earth flows, the formation of which is caused by an increased seasonal thawing of the upper part of the ground ice on the slopes as compared to the previous years. Analysis of the monitoring data showed that in 2012 and 2013 all the types of surfaces are characterized by a significant increase in seasonal thawing compared to the previous period 1993–2011 (12 % increase on slopes), due to the summer air temperature, the amount of summer precipitation and the increased duration of the warm period. The results of the thermocirques activity analysis are shown on a map. The results of this local study were compared with those of a regional (Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas) remote sensing study of thermocirques. This showed a higher accuracy of the local study based on field monitoring and very-high-resolution satellite imagery. The analysis of the thermocirques activity showed that 1) over the period from 2010 to 2018 thermal denudation activity in the study area increased due to the anomalous climatic conditions in the spring-summer season of 2012, and then gradually decreased; 2) in addition to “classical” thermocirques, which were at different stages of activity in the time periods analyzed (2010, 2013 and 2018), a significant number of embryonic thermocirques were identified. Such thermocirques, just as the majority of small “classical” thermocirques, can only be identified on very-high-resolution satellite imagery. Рассмотрены климатические факторы активизации термоденудационных процессов, приводящих к образованию ...